I was reading this section from the BT this morning. I have read it before but I find it to be very profound and wanted to jot down some notes. Yeshua seems to wrap everything up about faith, kingdom living and our future as sons of God. This is from 193:2.2.

“Peace be upon you. You rejoice to know that the Son of Man has risen from the dead because you thereby know that you and your brethren shall also survive mortal death. But such survival is dependent on your having been previously born of the spirit of truth-seeking and God-finding. The bread of life and the water thereof are given only to those who hunger for truth and thirst for righteousness—for God. The fact that the dead rise is not the gospel of the kingdom. These great truths and these universe facts are all related to this gospel in that they are a part of the result of believing the good news and are embraced in the subsequent experience of those who, by faith, become, in deed and in truth, the everlasting sons of the eternal God. My Father sent me into the world to proclaim this salvation of sonship to all men. And so send I you abroad to preach this salvation of sonship. Salvation is the free gift of God, but those who are born of the spirit will immediately begin to show forth the fruits of the spirit in loving service to their fellow creatures. And the fruits of the divine spirit which are yielded in the lives of spirit-born and God-knowing mortals are: loving service, unselfish devotion, courageous loyalty, sincere fairness, enlightened honesty, undying hope, confiding trust, merciful ministry, unfailing goodness, forgiving tolerance, and enduring peace. If professed believers bear not these fruits of the divine spirit in their lives, they are dead; the Spirit of Truth is not in them; they are useless branches on the living vine, and they soon will be taken away. My Father requires of the children of faith that they bear much spirit fruit. If, therefore, you are not fruitful, he will dig about your roots and cut away your unfruitful branches. Increasingly, must you yield the fruits of the spirit as you progress heavenward in the kingdom of God. You may enter the kingdom as a child, but the Father requires that you grow up, by grace, to the full stature of spiritual adulthood. And when you go abroad to tell all nations the good news of this gospel, I will go before you, and my Spirit of Truth shall abide in your hearts. My peace I leave with you.”

Yeshua’s teaching is centred on spiritual growth, personal responsibility, and the true meaning of salvation. It challenges His disciples to look beyond the mere fact of physical resurrection and instead focus on the inner transformation required to attain eternal life.

In the BT, Yeshua says that the resurrection is not really the core of the Gospel message. He acknowledges that His followers rejoice in His resurrection, but He quickly redirects their attention. The fact that the dead rise is not the good news itself, but rather it is simply a consequence of a deeper spiritual truth. The heart of the Gospel lies in the promise of sonship with God, the idea that through faith, men and women become eternal children of a divine Father.

Spiritual rebirth precedes survival after death. Yeshua said that survival after mortal death is not automatic. It hinges on being “born of the spirit”, referring to an experience which is rooted in truth-seeking and a sincere longing for God. I think this tells us that faith is an active, ongoing pursuit, which requires a hunger for spiritual understanding and a thirst for moral righteousness.

He taught that fruits of the spirit is evidence of true faith. Salvation, while it is described as a free gift from God, comes with a natural expectation, meaning those who are spirit-born must bear “the fruits of the divine spirit.” These fruits are definitely not abstract ideals; the text of BT says they are concrete expressions of character and behaviour, including loving service, unselfish devotion, honesty, hope, trust, and peace. It is clear that spiritual rebirth must manifest in the way believers live their lives. Without these fruits, a person’s faith is considered lifeless—like a barren branch that will ultimately be pruned from the vine.

Yeshua moves on to spiritual maturity and growth. The Master spoke of spiritual progression. Entering the kingdom of God may begin with childlike faith, but Yeshua insists that this is only the start. The heavenly Father expects believers to “grow up”—to mature in their spiritual understanding and moral integrity. This journey is one of continual progress, with the yielding of ever-increasing spiritual fruits as a sign of advancing towards God. This is an absolute necessity in this life.

We learn that the Spirit of Truth is a guide and companion. Yeshua reassured His followers that they will not undertake this spiritual mission alone. As they spread the message of sonship and salvation, the Spirit of Truth will dwell within them, guiding their hearts and offering His abiding presence. This spirit represents a divine companion, a source of inner strength and wisdom as they walk the path of faith.

Have you ever thought of peace as being a gift and a responsibility in one package? The Master concluded with a powerful bestowal of peace. It is obvious this was not just a simple comforting farewell; it was actually a reminder that true peace arises from oneness with God and from living a life shaped by the fruits of the spirit. Thus, peace is not only a gift received but also something Yeshua’s disciples are meant to embody and extend to others.

What I see in this passage is Yeshua teaching us to move our focus from mere belief in miraculous events to the personal transformation required to embody the Father’s will. Faith is not validated by dramatic signs, but by a life overflowing with divine qualities, which turns out to be an ongoing journey of spiritual growth and loving service.

There is a lot packed in this passage for us to digest, so I hope to go into more detail in some future notes and studies.

Br J

In today’s reading we find an inspired narrative that bridges the seen and unseen, the physical and spiritual, inviting us to reflect on the eternal truths of resurrection, transformation, and the universal mission of the Messiah.

Our reading begins by describing Yeshua’s resurrected form as a morontia body, a state that mirrors the ascendant experience of mortals traversing the mansion worlds of the universe. This transitionary state, neither purely material nor entirely spiritual, embodies the bridge between temporal existence and eternal destiny. Yeshua, through his resurrection, not only proclaims victory over death but also illuminates the path for all who believe in him.
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“Faith is the inspiration of the spiritised creative imagination.” (BT 132:3.5)

In a world increasingly marked by turmoil, uncertainty, and hardship, the importance of strengthening our faith in God cannot be overstated. With global challenges such as economic instability, social unrest, human trafficking, and war, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Yet, these are precisely the times when our faith can provide the solace and strength we need.

Understanding the Role of Faith
Faith is part of having a deeply personal relationship with God that sustains us through life’s trials. It offers hope when circumstances seem dire and provides a sense of purpose and direction. Strengthening our faith involves regularly nurturing this relationship, which can be achieved through prayer, reading scripture, and worship.
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One of the most oft asked questions that has occupied the minds of humanity throughout the ages is whether God, the Creator of the universe, genuinely cares about the individual human beings who inhabit this vast cosmos. It is a question that touches the core of our existence, prompting us to ponder the nature of divinity and our place within creation.

In seeking answers to this inquiry, we turn to the teachings of the Urantia Book. The Urantia Book, also called the Book of Truth, offers us remarkable insights into the nature of God and His relationship with His creatures. According to the Book, the concept of God as a caring and loving Father is central to understanding the divine nature. The Book portrays God as a benevolent and compassionate Being who is intimately involved in the lives of His children. We read of God’s infinite love and concern for each individual soul: Truly of the human race has it been said, You are of God because he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him. This verse shows the inseparable bond between God and His creation, affirming that His love permeates every aspect of existence.
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The Book of Truth (Urantia Book) provides us with insights into the significance of the Advent season, albeit the word is not explicitly used in this sense. The Book offers a unique perspective on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, whom it refers to as Michael of Nebadon, and provides a comprehensive narrative of his earthly sojourn. During this period, the Book emphasizes the spiritual nature of Jesus’ mission and the purpose behind his incarnation on Urantia.

The Advent season, as celebrated in traditional Christianity, marks the anticipation of the coming of the Messiah, the Christ. The Book correlates with this concept, portraying Michael’s earthly life as a pivotal event in the spiritual evolution of the planet. The teachings of Jesus, as elucidated in the Book, focus on deep spiritual truths, urging his disciples to seek a deeper understanding of the Universal and to embrace a life of love, service, and righteousness.

The Book helps us see the life-changing power of Jesus’ teachings, urging followers to embark on a personal and committed spiritual journey. The Advent season, therefore, can be seen as a symbolic representation of the ongoing spiritual journey that we undertake in our quest for higher spiritual attainment, guided by the timeless teachings of Michael of Nebadon.
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“The great hope of Urantia lies in the possibility of a new revelation of Jesus with a new and enlarged presentation of his saving message which would spiritually unite in loving service the numerous families of his present-day professed followers.” (195:10.16)

The hope expressed in this passage helps us see that the “new revelation” has the power to create spiritual unity among the diverse groups that identify themselves as followers of Jesus on Urantia/Earth. The new revelation of Jesus is the foundation for the dynamic nature of spiritual understanding and the continuous unfolding of divine truths to humanity. Revelations are not static but are instead progressive, adapting to the evolving needs and capacities of individuals and societies. The teaching concerning a new and enlarged presentation of Jesus’ saving message is an acknowledgment of the changing circumstances and consciousness of the world.
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Jesus (Yeshua) said: “The people of another age will better understand the gospel of the kingdom when it is presented in terms expressive of the family relationship—when man understands religion as the teaching of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, sonship with God.” Then the Master discoursed at some length on the earthly family as an illustration of the heavenly family, restating the two fundamental laws of living: the first commandment of love for the father, the head of the family, and the second commandment of mutual love among the children, to love your brother as yourself. And then he explained that such a quality of brotherly affection would invariably manifest itself in unselfish and loving social service. (142:7.4)

The Master imparts a significant insight into the understanding of the gospel of the kingdom. He placed his focus on the importance of presenting spiritual truths in terms of the family relationship, saying that individuals of a future era will better comprehend the teachings when expressed through the familial context. This metaphorical approach, using the family structure as an illustration of the heavenly family, serves to demonstrate the divine principles inherent in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.
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“Genuine spiritual faith… Maintains a divine trust in ultimate victory in spite of the cruelties of seemingly blind fate and the apparent utter indifference of natural forces to human welfare.” (101:3.4)

Genuine spiritual faith transcends the temporal challenges posed by the seemingly capricious nature of fate and the apparent indifference of natural forces to human welfare. It is rooted in a deep trust in ultimate victory, a trust that emanates from an understanding of the divine order underlying the complexities of existence. In the face of the cruelties that may unfold in the course of human experience, spiritual faith acts as a steadfast anchor. It provides solace and assurance that extends beyond the immediate challenges presented by a chaotic world. The acknowledgment of divine trust is s foundation stone for belief in a higher purpose and a cosmic plan that transcends the limitations of mortal comprehension.
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